A convoy of 280 Russian trucks are heading towards Ukrainian border. Russian officials say they are full of aid desperately needed for relief efforts in Eastern Ukraine, officials across the border are not so optimistic.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has come out strongly against the convoy said the move is "cynical," and that "it would be better for Russia to send 300 empty Kamaz trucks to take their bandits back. Then there would be no need to send humanitarian aid."

Russian officials have insisted the move is to deliver humanitarian aid to areas in need.

Oleksandr Scherba, the Ambassador-at-Large to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, echoed the view of his Prime Minister on the program:

"Of course we are very distrustful of Russia's intentions from the very beginning Russia didn't show any goodwill whatsoever."

"But on the other hand," Scherba stated, "The humanitarian situation on the ground is very desperate, very difficult. We are not in the kind of situation to be very adamant about sending back anything we receive even from the nation that is behaving in a really hostile manner."

When questioned by Hala Gorani, sitting in for Christiane Amanpour, about why there has been no coordination with red cross, Konstantin Dolgov, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Special Representative for Human Rights, rebutted "I am amazed to hear that it hasn't been coordinated. From what has been said many times, not just by Russian officials, all the details, all the parameters of this humanitarian convoy have been meticulously discussed and agreed upon by: Russia, Ukraine, the International Committee for the Red Cross."

"As far as I understand he [Scherba] works in the Foreign Ministry" the special representative went on to say. "The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has officially, by sending a reply note to the Russian Foreign Ministry, has confirmed that all the details of that humanitarian convoy have been agreed upon. Once they have confirmed that all the details have been agreed upon. This was a very precise official reaction."

Special Representative Dolgov said that it is "a huge hypocrisy to present Russia's role, particularly humanitarian role in this particular case as a guise for some military plans. It's particularly amazing to hear it from the representative of the Ukrainian government which continues to bomb and shell its own citizens."

When given the chance to respond Oleksandr Scherba pulled no punches:

"Hypocrisy is the first word to come to my mind too. To form this fire and then send some water to extinguish it."

"To speak about people dying on the ground and shelling, from the representative of a country who basically eradicated Chechnya 10 years ago, it is a hypocrisy."

soundoff(138 Responses)

pappyvanwinkle

Hah! To push so hard to force Ukraine to accept the Trojan Horse is reason enough to assume Russia is up to no good. Added to the fact that it was not coordonated with Red Cross. I also can't belive a Russian representative would use their own propaganda and expect other nations to take it seriously. It is amazingly pathetic coming from a country desperate to be respected.

Actually there are chechen warriors who are hidden inside the trucks. You're joking? All is simple like the egg on a table – Kiev don't want to accept Russian aid 'cause they be looking full morons in face own people. Where their aid are? Don't you know?

It sounds very stupid.
I would like to clarify 2 important points
1. It is very easy for Russia to occupy Ukraine. So Russia does not need such kind if circus (masquerading military action with aid)
2. Kiev has not been provided any help to this region. Donetsk region has around 7 millions of citizens. And no help from Kiev. But Ukraine army bombing this region.
3. According to Ukraine mass media all the people in Donetsk including women are "terrorists"

So my concern is that Kiev just does not want to help these people in East Ukraine. They are supposed to be bad and not deserved help.

Regarding your point #3. This is truth but why they (citizens of Youth-East) accepted the results of fake plebiscite? Do they want to Russia? So believed?

August 14, 2014 at 9:16 am |

LJ

The Ukrainian Government sent aid, Ukrainian Orthodox Churches and non Orthodox Churches are all on record and all have sent aid, as have Ukrainian charitable organization. Currently the Ukrainian Government's trucks are en-route with Humanitarian Aid. Sorry, Russia if this was to be a grand gesture and PR stunt ... it won't work.

August 14, 2014 at 11:10 am |

LJ

Roman K,
"According to Ukraine mass media all the people in Donetsk including women are "terrorists"..."

No actually, according to the Ukrainian media, all women and children and men between the ages of 16-60 are hostages held by Russian terrorists against their will. The new rules won't allow civilians between those ages to leave the occupied territories.
Kiev has and is providing aid to people it can liberate and reach. Russian terrorists should leave Ukraine then all Ukrainian citizens will receive the Humanitarian Aid they need. Repairs of infrastructure will allow them to get back on their feet.
It's not clear why Russian terrorists find it important to blow up important infrastructure once they occupy the area. I suppose it's a tactic to terrorize the local population and force them to do their bidding, similar to the use of kidnappings and executions.

August 14, 2014 at 11:19 am |

Gil

Yes, Russia does need this type of "circus". Just because it has the power to invade and occupy Ukraine, doesn't mean that it can do so openly. Right now, Russia is already the target of sanctions and it has an extremely poor image all over the world. If it decides to go all the way and invade Ukraine, then it will be treated the same way as Hussein's Iraq (at the time when it attacked Kuwait). Putin is acting tough, but he doesn't want to be seen as a total despot.

August 14, 2014 at 12:29 pm |

Marcin

Russia took part in unleashing the Second World War (search wiki 'Ribbentrop – Molotov Pact' more accurately secret annex), Russia calls War III? ps' sorry for the language, I'm starting to learn English🙂 best regards

August 14, 2014 at 4:52 pm |

Borys

Roman are you russian piece of sh..... To tell that story?

August 14, 2014 at 5:39 pm |

Phil

The telegraph and the guardian has published pictures and articles about a Russian military convoy crossing the border near Donetsk, Russia. Makes you wonder about that huge 270 truck convoy.

August 14, 2014 at 6:50 pm |

dmich

1. Russia does not need to hide anything in those trucks. The reason is very simple: they can get anything (weapons, food...etc) to those rebels in the east of UA and noone wil notice anything. So why would they want to hide anything in those trucks?

2. How hard is it for UA to inspect every single truck that comes in from Russia? It's a simple procedure. So stop blaming Russia for brining in anything illegal until you have found something.

3. Noone is holding anybody against their own will there. There are thousands of people that had to leave their homes because of this war. The problem is that UA won't allow these people to leave safely. Why? They want clean east territory with no people?

4. How come when these ukranian women and children come to Russia they get everything they need (shelters, food, water). But when these people decide to go to Kiev instead of Russia they don't get anything? Why doesnt' their own government make their life a little easier when they decide to move away from war to Kiev?

5. Russia will keep supporting these rebels in the east with everything they need. It won't let the UA and their king Obama win this thing. Russia does not fear any sanctions. In fact the EU sanctions will most likely be canceled within 2-3 months. Russia in return will cancel its sanctions.

6. Russia wants NATO as far as possible from its boarders. So Putin will do everything he can to win this UA war with the hands of these rebels.

August 15, 2014 at 2:42 am |

James

My friend, you are wrong in every sent ace you said, I will address some, If Russia really wanted to help they would not have started this mess, taken by force Ukraine Simferople ! they would ask the Right officials if we wanted help, but they did this without permission and this is reticules that anyone would try to come across any countries borders with out that. Kiev has sent many trucks with food water and meat, seen often on TV and covered by European repeaters. The government never said all the people in Daninsk, lug ants or anywhere were Russian terrorists, they say it like it is for the most part and if people were wise they would not support Russia that has literally attacked more than 4 nations in 10 years and Ukraine 0, you getting the big picture? Russia is an Enemy of Ukraine, they clearly want control of the old Soviet Union states. Lean your history and check other news everyone that peaks like you wages Russian TV and believes all the meadia lies, its pretty easy to investigate.

August 15, 2014 at 4:30 am |

dmich

@James If Russia really wanted to help they would not have started this mess, taken by force Ukraine Simferople !

Russia did not take Simferopl by force. It took the whole Crimea back from Ukraine. Simferopl is just a city in Crimea.
What is US doing in this conflict anyways? You guys are across the freaking ocean from EU, what do YOU want in UA?
Oh I guess it's the same old answer: we want UA to be free and democratic country. Same thing you said in Iraq and many more countries.
If Russia didn't take the Crimea back there would already be a US military base. Noone in Russia wants your base and it will never be there.
-Kiev has sent many trucks with food water and meat, seen often on TV and covered by European repeaters.
So if Kiev did send any food to the East, why does the east have nothing, where did it all go? How could Kiev send anything to the east when they don't have money to pay their own troops?
-–Russia that has literally attacked more than 4 nations in 10 years and Ukraine 0
This war is not about Ukraine. It's US and EU against Russia. How many countries did US invade? How many revolutions did US organize? Please look at yourself before pointing fingers at others.

--Russia is an Enemy of Ukraine, they clearly want control of the old Soviet Union states.
Russia is an Enemy of pretty much everybody as it turns out according to the west news. Why can't you get the real picture? Russia doesn't need a war with UA, it just wants NATO and US away from its boarders. Thats it! This is what Russia is fighting for.

August 15, 2014 at 9:42 am |

Nate

I agree with you. First, people are going on about how Russia is moving supply's secretly over the border. Now all of a sudden they have to sneak it in Aid trucks ? Do people even think before talking anymore ? Or does CNN do that for them now days.

Hilter, also thought he and his army were invincible.
Will Putin, share the same fate, over delusional dreams???

August 14, 2014 at 4:30 pm |

Marcin

test

August 14, 2014 at 4:39 pm |

russofill with brain

Russia Russia. it is very difficult i know to do the right think in the world that is completely poisoned by western propaganda.
This is the curse of been a great power, and not only great power a great power with a big hart.
How many Russians volunteers died to help liberate the people in the Balkans from the ottomans for example.
One think is certain, now we know who are the dumbest people in Europe the so called Ukrainians and the Georgians, both had wars with their biggest trading partner Russia.
In the case of Ukraine is even worst there is almost no Ukrainian family that is not connected in some way with Russia,
and to have war between the two is beyond believe.

Western-installed Ukronazi regime haven't sent a single aid package, only slaughter. Russia sent hundreds of aid trucks.

US and EU puppets are doing their best to make sure aid does not reach the people they slaughter for having a different opinion because it uncovers Poroshenko's thugs for what they are, butchers that murder brave people rising up to fight for their rights.

I agree with you. It is not possible for Ukrainian government to admit Russian aid. The shame of they! Indeed, no one truck, no one bag to help to Youth of their own country while all the time of war. Are there any idiots or morons over there in Kiev? Who are they?

Well, if it isn't a voice of the defense of the Moscow Junta ... Have you forgotten how your Putin with his KGB friends came to power in Russia? He has stayed in control now for 15 years and will probably stay your dictator till he dies🙂

in 1968. The Russians sent aid to Prague and murdered political opponents, the Ukraine starved of about 10 miles. people (search the wiki "Holodomor"), the Russians killed millions at home and in neighboring nations. Regards Marcin from Poland. ps' sorry for the language, I'm starting to learn English🙂

for what the Russians murdered 21 thousand. Poles at Katyn and officially said that it was the Nazis with whom the Russians unleashed World War II (search wiki 'Ribbentrop – Molotov Pact' secret annex). Regards Marcin from Poland. ps' sorry for the language, I'm starting to learn English🙂

Anyone find it amusing the convoy is coming from MOSCOW?!? This whole situation feels like Russia is a living, breathing, Hunger Games with Moscow as its existential 'Capital' and eastern Ukraine as the first District ready to revolt.

It is funny how Russians are polluting all the forums in the US. Poor Russian ego ... everyone shows them how week they are and how dumb their policies are and what do they say? Western propaganda... Russians (at least the 85% that support their dictator) deserve what they got the last 15 years... corruption, oligarchs, no real freedoms, etc. At this pace in another 10-20 years and they will go back to 1917.

US has even more corruption than Russia. Half of US military budget goes God knows where. Just ask yourself how did an average US citizen benefit from US invading Iraq? You spent billions of $ on this thing and lost thousands of lives. What did an average citizen get from this? Was it worth it?
– No real freedoms?
Mickey Rourke visited Moscow just few days ago. He bought a t-shirt with Putin image in the front for himeslf and his friends in US.
Steven Seagal did pretty much the same thing. And just yesterday US state dep asked US movie stars not to show support for Russia and Putin. How childish is that? Is this a freedom? Is this a democracy?
– Oligarchs?
Lots of them are in Russia. But new UA government is also oligarchs. And US fully supports them. Therefore US supports oligarchs. Not all of them, only the ones that are "convenient" for them.

August 15, 2014 at 3:11 am |

Bob Kebic

Hey, Bill Gates and I are both worth 36.35 billion dollars each – on average! Who needs Russia!

August 16, 2014 at 5:58 am |

Billy Dunn

It's not about what is on the trucks going in, it's about what is on the trucks going out.

What better way to evacuate all the military sent into another country (with BUK hardware) than on the back of 150 empty trucks going your way...

The funny thing is that Russia can squash the oligarchs and their Ukrainian Fascist serfs in a couple of days. I am aware that the Junta of Alien oligarchs have removed Right Sector from the square fearing Ma

August 14, 2014 at 9:11 pm |

Marco

The funny thing is that Russia can squash the oligarchs and their Ukrainian Fascist serfs in a couple of days. I am aware that the Junta of Alien Oligarchs have removed Right Sector from the square because they fear Maidan 3 and Ukraine will implode with the Oligarch Junta probably fleeing either to Israel or the United States but in the meantime more people have died than even the massacres in Gaza. Patience has its limits.

August 14, 2014 at 9:16 pm |

Teegron

Yes, and they also banned the Russian-language version of the Euronews channel in Ukraine. It's a clear example of the democracy and the heroic defending of Ukraine, of course. LOL.

August 15, 2014 at 1:54 am |

oh cmon

So...Russia has been supposedly supplying weapons, terrorists and other help to pro-russian separatists for months now. However, the actual proof of that was never shown to us. So now, Moscow was like "lets send our military convoys disguised as humanitarian aid...sure others wouldn't wonder whats inside 280 trucks. So lets stuff it with weapons for the world to see". Really? Trojan Horse?
Seriously, how much of an idiot do you have to be to actually assume that there's anything in those trucks besides so much needed help for those suffering people. they have no food and shelter and you would rather see them die, than get your price hurt, than accept help from Russia. Get off your asses and check those damned trucks, until then, all these assumptions are empty speculations!

You must not have got the news... The usual supply route that the Russian terrorists used was cut off about a week ago by the Ukrainian Army. Hence this new approach via Humanitarian Aid.... Better approach would be to recall Russian Terrorists to Russia and allow Ukraine to solve its own problems. Plenty of Humanitarian Aid being directed by sources other than Russia.

Ukrainian right wingers are pretty bad, they dream about a Ukraine from San to Don. Russia's right wingers dream about a Russia (or "Eurasia") from Lisbon to Alaska to Arctic to Islamabad. That's worse.

August 14, 2014 at 12:48 pm |

MarinaKhari

“The world wants to know what is in these trucks”. A ridiculous statement, as if this was the greatest mystery of the century. Just to go and check.Hey, Russia! Stop engaging in these schizophrenic Ukraine/West games around humanitarian aid. Just deliver it to Luhansk and Donetsk via the shortest route. If any OSCE/Red Cross people want take them on board but don’t accept any more delays. People urgently need medicine, food, water there. At least such aid if you could not protect them from bombs.

The people need all the relief material they can get, from whatever source. It should not be difficult, even at this stage, to associate the Red Cross, to check the contents of the trucks and then, more importantly, to oversee the distribution.

It's really looks nowdays sad and ridiculous to hear that hysterical Kiev goverment especially Facebook guy Mr.Avakov tells about this humanitarian convoy. Obviously there's a humanitarian goods inside. The issue is that the Russia was in ahead of current Kiev goverment to send the Humanitarian aid to Luhansk and Donetsk region than the people in charge of Ukraine now, thus showed the unability or probably reluctance (taking into account the number of antirussian people in Rada an President Administration) of Kiev goverment to send the real aid to the region.
Come back to Mr. Avakov – If you're a Minister of the Interior you can easily check the content of the convoy at the border It seems it's customary usual poor attempt to blame again "Evil" Russia in all problems of Ukraine.

The government in Ukraine is correct to be concerned. The plan – and promises from Moscow – were to have the convoy transferred to the International Red Cross, at a border crossing controlled by the Ukrainian government. Why has Moscow changed this, and why is the convoy parked at a border crossing controlled by the separatists ?
One possible scenario – Kiev lets these trucks in. Suddenly they are other white trucks crossing from Russia into the war zone. How is Kiev to distinguish between the "allowed" white trucks, and the "other" trucks. It could not, and it would be impossible to stop the "other" trucks.

Russians living in Ukraine can live on, but terrorize the peaceful inhabitants of Ukraine in Ukraine. Do you think that the Russians would agree to give Siberia where they live mostly descendants of the exiled violence Poles, Ukrainians, Czechs, Germans and other nations occupied by the Russians had behaved like the Russians in Ukraine? ps' sorry for the language, I'm starting to learn English🙂

Sadly, as I watch the charade which is this "humanitarian convoy", I am ironically and tragically reminded of much more somber recent processions. Those of the caskets bearing murdered passengers of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, beginning on July 23rd, in the Netherlands. It is clear to see the hypocrisy and LIES emanating out of the Russian mouthpiece. He's so used to lying, that he doesn't know any other way. But, his arrogance and condescension fool no one. Slava Heroyam! Putin Khuilo!

No..there is no glory for your Bandera heroes. Take your nationalist slogans elsewhere. Stop the ATO in the east and gain true glory through peace talks and then you will become true heroes for everyone.

Hey, how about you GTFO of Ukraine, Sputnik? Thru the millenia has Ukraine caused you bandits problems, or has it been the other way around? Thought so...

August 14, 2014 at 3:10 pm |

Wingster

@Slava Heroyam- I am not in Ukraine and never will I be in Ukraine. As a born and raised US citizen that has had the unfortunate opportunity to deal with Ukrainians on multiple occasions I can say with confidence that there is not any other nation that is so conniving. The whole of the country, east and west, are sell outs. The western Ukrainians demand money from the west and the eastern Ukrainians demand it from Russia. Everyone is ready to sell out the very land under their own feet. Stop whining and screaming your slogans and get your crap together. You had over two decades after the fall of the Soviet Union to do something and yet nothing has been done. I even find it interesting the Kuchma is so "involved" as a pro-western figure seeing the he is a thief that found favor in the eyes of Moscow. Your all turn coat. So to you I say GTFO of my country and go build yours back up and earn the respect and glory that you so demand.

@Slava Heroyam- Like I said, I am a born and raised US citizen whose genealogy can be traced back to the revolutionary war, back to the Mayflower and further back to the British Isles. I am true blue through and through. My history is full of good things and bad things. The difference between me and Ukrainians is that I personally recognize the faults of my heritage but I also have a lot to be proud of. For example a great great great etc. grandfather that fought under General Washington for my rights that I have today (there are many more examples, but you get my point). So yes, I do have the balls to mention glory and respect and I try to keep my nose clean and be a good American citizen that my country can be proud of and my grandchildren in the future.
If Ukrainians want that respect then they need to earn it. Right now no one, absolutely no one, in Ukraine is doing anything to earn it. Everyone just wants freebies from either the west or Russia. And there is just a bunch of finger pointing going on.

August 14, 2014 at 4:13 pm |

Igor Rossine Gleb

Hopefully the Russian started the move to help those people and now others are thinking abou this!!! Let´s prevent Holomodor 2.0 against the people of Novorossya. It would be great if Ukraine could move to a model like Canada or Belgium, fully respecting its large russian speaking minority. When the communist created Ukraine in 1917-18 they merged Novarossya ( Russian speaking ) with Little Russia ( Ruthenian speaking). If this not happen, probably will be dimembered like Yugoslavia was bye the Western countries!!

So, CNN, why are you not reporting about your other coupist friend Saakashvili who was murdering Ossetians with artillery in 2008 like your friend Poroshenko is murdering the people of Donbass today becoming a wanted fugitive in his own country he fled?

This is very sad coming from CNN, "TECHNICAL ISSUES"!!!!!!!let the man finish speaking.people are suffering and you people are making a pay cheak from this!!?how do you people sleep.you people have lost your humanity.SHAME.

As if the fascist junta in the kremlin is going to provide humanitarian assistance, talk about a contradiction in terms. The words Russia and humanitarian are simply incompatible, always has been and always will be

Do you know Steve, that recently the part of east ukranian people voted on referendum to secede from Ukrain and they created Dontetsk and Lugansk republics? The vast majority of theirs habitants are Russians, who don't want to live under the control of the naze ukranian governement, who hates all Russians (f.e. forbid them to use Russian languages in state offices etc.). To your opinion – is it a good reason to bombe and to murder them every day ? In addition, historically the Lugansk and Donetsk regions were parts of Russia, and only in the USSR they were added to Ukrain to enforce this agricultural country by the industrial regions.

Reincarnation of the Third Reich is NATO and it's disciples are awakening after the decades of hibernation. All the ex-Nazi puppet regimes are entrenched in NATO and Ukraine was the only one missing – and with 900,000 Jews killed in WWII it is more than qualified for the membership. Prost!!!

Nobody should stop Russians to help Russians. The vast majority of Donetsk and Lugansk habitants are Russians . They don't want to live under the control of ukranians nazi who hate all Russians (f.e. forbid them to use Russian language in state offices etc). Everybody has already forgotten, that recently the Lugansk and Donetsk people voted in the referendum to secede from Ukrain, since that time they are bombing and murdering avery day by the ukranian Nazi government, who now decided to finish them by the starvation.

just Russians with the Nazis caused a World War II (17.09.1939 the Russians invaded Poland), Ukrainians were starved by the Russians and the victims could be as high as 10 miles. (wiki 'Holodomor'), the Russians occupied countries such as Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria for the Ukrainians want independence and to join the EU, but the Russians terrorize part of the country that Ukrainians have to recover (a property of Ukrainians do not Russian terrorists).
ps' sorry for the language, I'm starting to learn English🙂 regards

17.09.1939? WW2 was begun 17 days earlier. And USSR returned eastern Polish lands (that was really non-Polish but occupied by Poland in war of 1920) when the Polish government already fled their country. And the Western allies did not declare war against USSR (maybe that time they understood USSR step for returning lands, unlike you). Also you can read about the Munich pact of 1938 – it's a clear example of the Western support for Hitler.
About the "holodomor" – but in comparing with Ukrainians, more Russians died in that years, also the Kazakhs, etc, so it was not against the Ukraine, it was a complex problem and big starvation suffered by many ethnicities. Also, before the shifting of the USSR internal administrative borders in 1920th, the "Eastern Ukraine" never was Ukrainian, it is a native land for the Russian-origin population.

Where are we heading now? The Bible says: "At the appointed time [the king of the north] will return back [the return of Russia in this context means crisis, which will eclipse the Great Depression. Not only the eurozone will break up, but also the European Union and NATO. Then many countries of the former Eastern block will return to Russia's zone of influence]. And [he] will enter into the south, but it will not be as the former [2008 – Georgia] or as the latter [2014 – Ukraine. Here also will be a success, and no military reaction from the West], for the dwellers of coastlands of Kittim [USA, in the beginning without Britain] will come against him, and he will be dejected, and will go back." (Daniel 11:29, 30a, literal translation)

Later, the third time will be U.S. intervention and global nuclear war. (Revelation 6:4) As Jesus foretold, it will be "the beginning of birth pains". (Matthew 24:7, 8)

hey,, I am pushing the real info,, there was a discussion about aid among the Ukrainian authority, Red cross and Russia and finally all party agreed in a decision that humanitarian aid could be expected from Russia. But USA/west doesn't like it when they have seen Russia get ready with 280 trucks massive aid and NATO's Fogh said "Russia could invade". Now, Ukrainian authority and Red cross change their mode. Aid possible would not cross the border.
Putin's logic: In this aid conflict, Putin gives the world a massage that in Eastern Ukraine everything including border is controlled by Ukrainian Army and what Kiev,WH said is lie (Ukraine/WH said/have been saying Russia is sending arms, troops, tanks, weapons, rockets, etc) Now the question is why Russia sends arms/weapons using humanitarian aid in a risky way if they can send it directly without problems!!

It's simple: NATO is using their latest "sweetheart" – the most corrupted country in Europe (beside Kosovo; another sweetheart) – to hurt Russia since most Russian pipelines are running through Ukraine! Does anyone really cares about Ukraine and it people – probably NOT!

In Yugo civil war NATO openly supported and armed Serbian enemies (Croats and Bosnia's & Kosovo Muslims) and now they having problem with Russia supporting it's own ethnic brothers?!?! The last time I checked those were not AMERICAN minority living in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo! Someone is crazy here and it's not me!

p.s. not to mention NATO using its own Air-Force to bomb and kill Serbian civilians – on purpose! Spanish NATO pilot publicly denounced NATO strategy and returned to Spain (google the incident)!

So then Russians.....If Siberia held a vote not sanctioned by Moscow and the voters had masked men with rifles stood all around them and it is then said that the majority voted to leave Russia.......Would you let them leave?

Russian is a federative, multicultural, multiconfessional and multi-ethnic state. Local population have their subjects of federation with their local governments and their languages as the official languages. The Eastern Ukrainians wait for 23 years but they have nothing similar and the Kiev constantly try to build mono-national mono-language country.

"Not even Hollywood could come up with such a plot: Israel gets away with unlawful premeditated mass murder of civilians while Russia gets framed for a (smaller-scale) airborne mass murder of civilians that has all the makings of being set up by the Kiev vassals of Russia's Western "partners". Sanctions and economic war are about to convulse Europe and pit Europe against Russia. Exactly what the Empire of Chaos is praying – and working – for. "

The above is obviously not written by someone from CNN but by the great Pepe Escobar

"The (Zbigniev) Brzezinski Doctrine" is an idea of breaking up Russia into "MORE MANAGEABLE PIECES"!
Is "Putin's Doctrine" break up of NATO?

August 16, 2014 at 5:46 am |

Rob Crawford

I find it a bit curious that the aid will not just be turned over to the Red Cross and that concrete arrangements where not made to begin with.
And also (being an Army Infantry 7 yr vet) it sure seems like one vehicle I just happened to see in video looked like a military vehicle to me.

POOTIN is a lunatic. If all the other Ukranians wants ot be under POOTIN, then why don't just leave the land that's no theirs anymore. Ukraine is for Ukrainians, these rebels not acknowledging Ukrainian government might as well follow their master. POOTIN wants to get the country, the land, he doesn't care about the people, it's all just for show. And yes, he needs this CIRCUS, he wants to be known, the way he's trying to imitate what US has been doing. Sure, he can do that too, try to help countries in need too as long as there's no catch, which is unlikely. THIS Humanitarian aid is one of his schemes to earn people's trust at their most vulnerable state. Why can't those rebels just accept their leader?
Then the government won't be needing to think twice on sending them aid. If those trucks are really what they are then why wouldn't they just leave it up to Redcross and it's volunteers to properly check and distribute them See? This is exactly why those Russians do not deserve TRUST.

Should Ukraine succeed in keeping the Donbas, they will be left with an ecological nightmare that will cost billions in future clean up. The toxic mines and smelters that operated in the Donbas during the Soviet era hugely tainted the ground water supplies and have caused extensive land pollution. The whole area is a decaying urban sprawl of poorly built Stalinist buildings and infrastructure (centralized power and steam plants; decayed streets, poorly constructed large structure apartments) that is considered early 19th century urban blight. Should Ukrainians want to join the EU, then they should willingly give Putin and his thugs the Donbas. Putin will continue to run it like the sty that it is. Like the Crimea Peninsula, Donbas is an illusion of former emperical power. And like Russia itself, Donbas is not worth the cost in lives and fortune to have nor to hold.

I can see that this is quite funny for this CNN lady, she's definitely amused. It's so cool, such a funny situation, people suffering and stuff, why not have a laugh, great news. Why is she still on the job? Is this journalism?

Nobody should stop Russians to help Russians. The vast majority of habitants of Donetsk and Lugansk republics are Russians (about 90%) . They don't want to live under the control of ukranians nazi who hate all Russians (f.e. forbid them to use Russian language in state offices etc). Everybody has already forgotten, that recently the Lugansk and Donetsk people voted in the referendum to secede from Ukrain, since then they are bombed and murdered avery day by the ukranian Nazi government, who now decided to finish them by the starvation.

The west doesn't care about justice – they only care about their interests, strategic or otherwise! So, if you are seeking western sympathy better end your own life and quickly instead dying of slow and agonizing death caused by "western help"!

Sorry Russia, but America isn't going to fall for this strategy. We invented it, after all. We invaded Mexico during the 19th century and annexed Texas in order to "protect" the Texans from the "cruel tyranny" of Mexico. Whenever we slaughtered the Native Americans, we did so in the name of protecting our settlers (who happened to be invading the natives' land.) It took you five hundred years just to conquer Siberia; America wiped out the organized, resilient, expansive, resourceful native American nations within a century. Russia is a tough old country, but the US plays the game better than you.

I honnestly think we can say one thing for sure and that is 'we don't know whats happening'.
The normal solution would just be to let the red cross check out the vehicles transporting those goods and give them green light if they are right. For all I know Kiev is trying to deny their agreement as a strategy to let the final rebels starve out and make victory easier. As long as there is no ultimate proof of anything, you can only observe.

What?? Russia is only trying to help people. They are only trying to make the lives of the depressed people there better. Where on earth did Russia get this idea that they can hide something truly sinister under a false cloak of kindness? After all, it's all just to help the starving people there and help make there lives better. Everyone doesn't see the absolute generosity of Putins heart? What a kind person he is? Honestly, so what if he is smuggling arms, weapons and troops in 5 of the convoys? That means 285 of them are full of food stuffs and aid. Doesn't that mean he is doing really really good for the poor starving war torn people overall though? Albeit from a war he himself started and caused from his illicit activity but that doesn't matter. What matters is all the people he is helping, right? 285 convoys of aid and 5 convoys of troops to infiltrate the country? Seems like a fair trade.

Again, that was sarcasm. But the idea of why someone would use the cloak of false aid and assistance to hide more sinister infiltration of a country and hide more illicit activity, is not a joke.

What a mess the entire situation. And what is the Ukrainians talking about, "no good will?". If they would have just let Putin annex Crimea and just let him have Eastern Ukraine, none of this would be going on. He would have been satisfied with Crimea and Eastern Ukraine for now. Now these belligerent Ukrainians continue to defend themselves and won't give up what Russia has stolen fair and square. Stolen FAIR and SQUARE!! Instead they keep making a big deal of the entire incident and continue to defend themselves. Furthermore the Ukrainians are such bad people they would rather let their people starve and suffer then accept our convoy of 275 Aid convoys and 5 armed troopers convoy.

You want the Ukrainian incident to settle down? Stand down and just give up Crimea and the rest of the Eastern Ukraine and the invasion will stop for a year or two, that's a promise!

Look all you Russian that buy in to this propaganda from Fuhrer Putin need to ask one simple question. If it is protecting Russian speakers that is important, why not open your boarders and just take those that want to be in Russia in. OH wait when the Rest of Russia see a free and happy Ukraine next to it with FREE AND HONEST ELECTIONS, it will want the same freedoms and rights, thus there will be no place for the Putin's of the world. Kinda hard for me to buy in to the argument that the entire world (minus Russia) is wrong and just accepting western propaganda! Wake up, people in Russia are as controlled as the radio controlled car my son uses, and that control Fuhrer Putin is not ready to let go of.
If Russia is so right and holy here, why then must they force people to vote with guns to their heads? oh Yeah Russia same stuff different day! Let the east choose where to live Russia or Ukraine. Invading other countries under the pretext of protecting your people there didn't work in 1945 and almost 100 years later it still is a worthless argument!. Russia your reputation proceeds you, deal with it and GET THE HELL OUT OF UKRAINE!

This is a reflection of History not an endorsement of any policy, of any Country: It seems this whole mess started just before the 2008 Olympic in China, and then when Mr. Putin had arrived at the Olympics in China, John McCain, who hasn't succeeded in anything ( a similar situation may be how many Generals has President Obama had to relieve of duty) but an arranged marriage after a quickie divorce and arranged politics (Arizona miracle worker; has left Arizona in chaos such as the VA Hospital and the Southern Border; with his wife's wallet and his cronies such as Saakashvili were a part of the South Ossetia incident in which Mr. Putin did not even stay at the Olympics in China, but flew home........ Almost an identical "Modus Operandi" seemed to happen in the Ukraine, as the Olympics opened in Sochi, with a coup of an elected government in the Ukraine (I am not endorsing the elected Government who was overthrown)........ Who are the actual good or bad guys, for we now see arrest warrants for Saakashvili from the Country of Georgia....... When this whole mess is over are we going to see John McCain, Saakahvili and Pereshenko hiding under John McCain's wife's bed? Or will there be another situation like Karzai, Al-Maliki, Gaddafi, Sadam Hussein, Mubarak, etc,..... With President Eisenhower's warnings echoing very loudly, will common sense ever be allowed to surface? For there seems to have been so many agencies created having to create a need for their existence; with so many people working, who is actually running the U.S., for these agencies it seems, are bankrupting the U.S.? Good Luck

On a long run it's better for the Russian minority to relocate its entire population into Russia for couple of reasons:
1) Russia is relocating the entire military industrial complex from Ukraine back to Russia and once it's done there will be no more work for them or anyone else for that matter!
2) Except for the Cold War's NATO strategic location most of Ukraine is worthless – including their industries!
3) You "can't eat Victory Parade" so the Ukrainians will soon realize western generosity will be a combination of The Red Cross's donations and "Dumpster-Diving" for NATO's soldiers "half-eaten-burger special" to supplement their diet!
******************** NA ZDOROVYE!!!! ***********************

And the final thought: The west made sure the whole conflict was the struggle between "Democratic Ukraine" against "Putin The Conqueror and his terrorist"! Cleaver usage of Putin as a "Red Herring" because if they told the truth they wouldn't get any public support for the ethnic cleansing now under way!
I hope Russia learns a lesson from this fiasco and creates economic and military coalition or NATO will eventually destroy Russia with a strategy of: "DEATH BY THOUSAND CUTS"!

Ah American commentators. So convinced other side has heavy propaganda that they fail to see or wonder their own side has propaganda as well (very one minded and narrow at that). Do you know what a besieged city looks like. In about 20 days people will start to die from starvation. 200 000 people can't go out. You don't like Russian aid convoy, fine, why don't you organised your own. I have failed to see any sign US has any sympathy for those people. I guess it's ok for them all to die out or emigrate just because most of them are Russians or support them. By the way, why is no one mentioning the Malaysian airplane anymore?

He cannot do things because he is Putin and he is Russian is not a valid argument. You cannot do things because you are not me is a line for bullies. An argument of brutes. Nobody loves a bully and a brute.

And Putin is trying to bully Ukraine, of course. He is doing it in the manner that has been done by others before. And that is scarey enough.

I've just read all comments here... And I wonder: If anyone paid attention to this video at all? Did you really see and hear it?

If so, then how do you think, could anyone STAY CALM while talking about THE WAR in his country (or home) and SUFFERING PEOPLE (or friends or any human) for whom he has the responsibility?..

Initially, even the idea would sound strange for me. But, as I see here, at least one man in the world obviously has this rare feature. Oleksandr Scherba is speaking about the armed invasion into his country... and HE IS ABSOLUTELY CALM and moreover — HE IS SMILING!! I'd say he is almost radiating forward to each journalist's question without "any second mind". As if the whole conversation just... pleases him?..

Sad to say this, but I'm sure this is exactly what happened there: Oleksandr Scherba WAS ("a little") PRE-INFORMED about the questions and the primary purpose of the show. Because the only cause of this "battle" is BS-ting the Russian opponent after he'd give his "wrong answers" in comparison to a well-arranged Ukrainian "right ones".

Did someone really buy this farce as the fair arguing?... OK then. Maybe dark fairytales could be more interesting than open-minded view for some people... Though it's more often not a reality, it is absolutely every person's choice, of course.

However, I'll rather believe my own eyes: the Ukrainian politician is playing a pre-edited role in this video. And he just openly enjoys "the American embrace" without any true concern about his country's future or its people.

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